Cervantez could have received as much as five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the prank, which closed Hobby Airport for about 20 minutes and grounded a flight to Dallas for several hours.

"You don't seem like a stupid person," Werlein told Cervantez before sentencing him. "I want to see you be a model of good conduct and rectitude for others."

Cervantez and his roommate scribbled notes on gum wrappers during an Aug. 5 flight from Dallas to Midland. The roommate's note had only a smiley face, but Cervantez's note read, "Theres (sic) a bomb on the plane!"

A passenger found the notes while the plane was on the ground in Houston, one on the floor and the other between a seat and tray table.

Cervantez's roommate left his phone number on his note, making it easy for the FBI to track the pair down.